The Reality of Teaching Young ELLs in a Pull-Out Program

The chapter focuses on the specifics of working with elementary school English language learners in ESOL pull-out programs. The authors, a TESOL professor and two ESOL pull-out teachers in elementary schools, examine the role of the ESOL program instructor in this type of academic setting. To give the readers a better idea of what the job of an ESOL pull-out teacher entails, the chapter presents portions of teacher interviews offering insights from two elementary pull-out programs. It provides first-hand accounts of real life experiences of instructors in established programs. They not only reflect on what it is like to teach ELLs in this type of program, but also offer practical suggestions, as well as comment on additional programs and services, such as summer school and after school academy, available to ELLs in their district. The goal of the chapter is to better familiarize elementary educators currently working in districts with pull-out programs or those considering this option as a career choice, and to better prepare them for the realities of everyday work.

STICKABILITY, TRANSFORMABILITY AND TRANSMITTABILITY: ALTERNATIVE, PULL-OUT PROGRAMS WITHIN SCHOOLS — WHAT THE LITERATURE SAYS ABOUT EFFECTIVE PRACTICE AND PROVISION FOR DISENFRANCHISED YOUNG PEOPLE

<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: #131413; font-size: medium;">This paper draws on the findings of a recent and extensive literature review to examine the efficacy of pull-out education programs (alternative programs) in schools in relation to student learning, well-being, and pathways. It synthesises the research on alternative education programs and their contribution to student outcomes using three main conceptual categories: how sustainable these programs are — their </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #131413;"><em>stickability</em>; how effective these programs are in achieving their stated purpose of improving and enhancing vulnerable students’ learning, well-being, and pathways — their <em>transformability</em>; and how these programs may be used successfully in other locations and contexts — their <em>transmittability. </em>It concludes with recommendations for future practice, suggesting that school systems should prioritise prevention and early intervention in providing support to vulnerable students in ways that take account of students’ own reasons for why they are disengaged from schooling.</span></span></span></p>

The Effects of Reintegration into General Education Reading Instruction for Students with Mild Disabilities

This study reports results of reintegrating 23 elementary-age students with mild disabilities served in special education pull-out programs into their general education classroom for reading instruction. These students were placed into general education classrooms for reading for up to 12 weeks. Effects were evaluated using Curriculum-Based Measurement. Achievement gains for reintegrated students were evaluated in the context of the academic gains made by general education students in the same reading groups. Results showed that on average, reintegrated students made academic gains comparable with their general education counterparts. Parents and general education teachers responded favorably to the reintegration decision, and their support did not change over the course of the reintegration trial. Implications for reintegration efforts are discussed.

A Developmental Concept of Giftedness: Implications for the Regular Classroom

Earlier approaches to giftedness and to the education of highly able students emphasised a relatively static concept of giftedness characterised by formal identification procedures, predetermined cut-off points for selection purposes, and pull-out programs for the selected students. This model is based on assumptions that can no longer be countenanced. In its place, a developmental concept of giftedness acknowledges the influence and importance of the environment on a child's performance and stresses the crucial role of the regular classroom teacher in the development of talented behaviour. Implications for the teacher and the school are discussed under the headings of (a) identification, (b) curriculum, (c) classroom management & organisation, (d) teaching strategies & skills and (e) school organisation. A developmental concept is not only theoretically sound but also includes the regular teacher as part of the developmental process itself.

Differentiating Cooperative Learning to Meet the Needs of Gifted Learners: A Case for Transformational Leadership

Cooperative learning activities, which assign gifted learners to mixed-ability groups, have been validly decried as exploitation. But a case can be made that mixed-ability grouping provides opportunities for gifted students to develop transformational leadership skills, an element of gifted education that has been given insufficient attention. Observations of interactions in mixed-ability groups reveal three persistent challenges (inclusiveness, enacting the ideal, and monitoring growth) in which leadership skills can be exercised and developed. Specific student strategies are proposed for each challenge. The role of teachers in developing the leadership skills of gifted learners involves delegating responsibility to student groups, adjusting leadership to the maturation levels of gifted learners, and creating pull-out programs for leadership training.